Panthers boys swimmers Ryan Holec, Chaz Halderson, Brent Thiel and Zach Gambrell won the 200 freestyle relay and automatically qualified in that event for the WIAA Division 2 State Championship, a bevy of their teammates took second place in other events and Plymouth ran away with a sectional title in the team's home pool Saturday.

Kiel/Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah swimmer Andres Mueller earned a trip to State by winning the 100 backstroke. The co-op finished fifth in the final 12-team standings.

"If you look at all of our times across the board, I think we PR'ed in almost every single one - maybe one we didn't," Plymouth coach Clare Sedlacek said, referring to personal records set by athletes. "But, specifically, the relays just were unbelievable."

Sedlacek said she thinks there's a good chance all three Plymouth relays could advance to State.

Only event winners in each of the division's four sectional meets automatically move on to State. But the next 12 fastest swimmers and best-scoring divers across all the Division 2 sectionals also advance, meaning high-placing non-winners from Saturday's meet in Plymouth have reasonable odds at going to State.

A complete and official list of state qualifiers wasn't immediately available on Saturday. The Division 2 state championship is scheduled for next Friday at the UW Natatorium in Madison.

Among the most impressive swims was Holec's second-place finish in the 100 butterfly (54.64). He set a new school record in the race despite having competed in the event only a few times earlier this season.

"Not surprised that he did it," Sedlacek said, calling's Holec's record-setting race "one of the most incredible" she's seen. "... What's so impressive is that he decided that he wanted that event and then he went out and got it."

The Panthers picked up numerous second- and third-place finishes:

•Evan Klemme was second (345.55) and teammate Anghelo Gangano was third (321.80) in the 1-meter diving event

•Harrison Strutz, Halderson, Thiel and Gambrell were second in the 200 medley relay (1:44.29)

•Lucas Collard, Holec, Thiel and Gambrell were second in the 400 freestyle relay (3:24.16)

•Holec was second in both the 50 freestyle (22.52) and the 100 butterfly (54.64).

•Gambrell was second in the solo 100 freestyle (50.90)

•Strutz was second in the 100 backstroke (58.33)

•Halderson was third in the 100 backstroke (1:05.29)

Kiel/Elkhart Lake managed a number of top-6 finishes:

•Besides his win in the 100 backstroke (56.91), Mueller also took fourth in the 100 butterfly (57.15)

The foursome finished third in the 200 freestyle relay, swimming the race in 1 minute, 31.11 seconds — less than two seconds behind winner and automatic state qualifier Neenah (1:29.57).

Event winners from each of the six WIAA Division 1 sectional meets Saturday automatically move to State. The next 18 fastest swimmers or best-performing divers from across all sectional meets also qualify for State.

A complete and official list of state qualifiers wasn't immediately available on Saturday. The Division 1 state championship is scheduled for next Saturday at the UW Natatorium in Madison.

North managed a few more top-6 finishes:

•Gerbitz, Pfeifer, Schuh and Scheibel were fifth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:23.44)

•Gerbitz was sixth in the 50 freestyle (22.83)

•Schuh was sixth in the 100 butterfly (56.72)

•Jacob Mittelstaedt was sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.64)

Sheboygan South's best swims — both seventh-place finishes — came in the 500 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke.